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Gary Walker plans to stay on the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors for as long as it’s legally allowed. That was the message he gave during the board’s Wednesday, Oct. 9 meeting, while reading a statement about his court case, the first comments he’s given since charges were filed earlier this year.

“I do not intend to respond to any allegations which have been made about me,” Walker said. “I was charged with certain offenses and have no doubt that if there were other grounds for other charges, they would have been brought against me. None were. The felony charges against me were reduced to misdemeanors. I entered an Alford Plea and was found guilty on misdemeanors.”

As a reminder, Walker was accused of violating Virginia’s Conflict of Interest Act. The original perjury charges were set aside or “nolle prosequi’, meaning the prosecution agreed not to pursue them. Instead, special prosecutor Tracy Martin offered and the defense accepted five counts of failing to disclose perjury. Each of those five counts carries a one-year prison sentence, which was suspended. During the hearing, Walker entered an Alford plea. That means the defendant still maintains he’s innocent, but accepts there’s enough evidence that a judge or jury could find him guilty. It’s treated as a guilty plea by the court.

“I’ve been tried not in the court of public opinion but instead in the court of law,” Walker said. “A determination has been made by the court and that determination is final. There’s nothing else to be gained by me commenting further on matters that have been litigated by a court of law and I will not do so.”

Walker received a one-year suspended prison sentence for each of those five charges, to run consecutively. That means he will serve no time. Instead, he will basically be on probation for that five-year period. The judge also ordered that Walker be removed from the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors, however he gave some leeway as to when that needed to happen. Under the order, Walker has to step down no later than six months from Sept. 23.

Walker said he followed those rules, submitting his resignation to the board, with it being effective as of March 23, 2025. That would be six months to the date. As for stepping down earlier, Walker refused.

“There have been suggestions that I should be removed from my service on the board of supervisors and that there are legal means by which that removal could happen,” Walker said. “I disagree. I’ve been removed from office, removed by the court order, entered as part of the court proceedings. Note, those matters are over and done with. The presiding judge, with the consent of the prosecuting attorney, endorsed the order by which I was granted until March 23, 2025 for my resignation from the board to be effective.”

Walker said he intends to serve out the remainder of his term as board chairman.

“I have submitted my resignation, effective March 23, 2025. I was duly elected the chairman of this board for the calendar year of 2024,” Walker said. “The court order does not require me to relinquish my chairmanship. I did step aside while court proceedings were going on but the court proceedings are now complete. I intend to continue serving as the chairman for the remainder of the year.”

He also thanked the many people who have stood by him, especially his colleagues on the board of supervisors.

“Your and their friendship have meant a great deal to me and to my family,” Walker said. “I thank all of those from the county that have remained steadfast in their support of me.”

SUPERVISORS STAY SILENT

A handful of people spoke during the meeting, calling on Walker to step down. They argued that it didn’t look good to have someone remain on the board after a judge ordered his removal. They also argued that future votes would be called into question.

George Toombs pointed out that the court order said Walker had up to March 23 to resign, not that he had to wait until then to do it. He asked the board to accept the resignation immediately.

“I don’t have any confidence in his hand being on the steering wheel of this board going forward or the results that will come from that,” Toombs said.

The other board members remained silent on the issue all night. They didn’t bring up the question of accepting the resignation or respond to calls to do so.